Photo by Ed Allen

2011 Citizen of the Year Steve Zbranek of Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes, center, is joined by 2010 winner Jaime Bush of  Point of Origin owner and 2009 winner Chief Todd Radford of the Lakeway Police Department at the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Gala Saturday at the Lakeway Resort and Spa.

Lake Travis’ enduring spirit shined as bright as a diamond at Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce’s 20th annual Community Awards Gala Saturday at Lakeway Resort and Spa.
Steve Zbranek, no stranger to the podium at chamber events, earned the 2011 Citizen of the Year award as the chamber’s outgoing chairman who led its economic forecast luncheons, Lunch and Learn series and Chairman’s Message.
The Leadership Lake Travis creator advocated for the Lake Travis school district’s $158.45 million bond package that passed in November and served on the district’s citizens review search committee to provide input on superintendent candidates.
His support of the community extended to serving as a founding board member of the Lakeway Police Memorial and Benevolent Foundation.
The Lake Travis Community Library Dancing with the Stars fox-trotter didn’t step on any toes in his acceptance speech.
“Thank you so much, Lake Travis,” Zbranek said. “I love being here. To be recognized tonight as Citizen of the Year for the community is probably one of the top highlights of my career. It’s very humbling.”
Taking on new projects energizes the Lakeway resident who always seems to be looking for the next one to take on or support with no ulterior motive for recognition.
“When I was working last year, I would go from one project to the next, and it just felt good doing each of them,” he said. “It would seem like we would finish one and start another one. I got really reinvigorated in this late year in my career. It was fun to feel that and to see the response that people give you. It was fun to organize more volunteers to do great things. I’m not done yet.”
His company, Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes, which won the chamber’s 2010 Business of the Year Award has begun the ground work for its next philanthropic program, in which it plans to build a home for a veteran and give it to him or her mortgage free. Zbranek also has committed to returning to his role as the chamber’s chairman in 2013.
Gala host Lakeway Resort and Spa didn’t have to travel very far to pick up its 2011 Business of the Year award.
The resort’s donations of services, event sponsorships and employee participation in community organizations such as Leadership Lake Travis and the Lakeway Police Memorial and Benevolent Foundation garnered the award.
A surprised general manager Troy Mathews shared that when the resort’s new management company, Redstone Companies Hospitality, wrote its first mission and vision statement years ago, it based it on engagement with the communities it serves.
“We view the community as a shareholder,” Mathews said.”This [award] tonight is really an affirmation to the fact that we probably did what we set out to do.”
In just two years on the Lake Travis scene, Community Impact secured the 2011 Young Business of the Year award by sponsoring chamber luncheons, reserving space in the publication for annual chamber events, participating and volunteering time with Leadership Lake Travis for the program’s continued success Last year, the company lent a helping hand to those affected by the wildfires.
General manager Phyllis Campos said she had a dream job that allowed her to interact with business owners, city council members, county commissioners and other leaders and recognized her staff.
“It’s just a fantastic team,” Campos said.
The squad of dedicated individuals at Lake Travis Fire Rescue who pulled together for days and nights to put out numerous wildfires last year earned a standing ovation at the Community Awards Gala as they received an award from the chamber for service and bravery.
“We are just glad we could serve you guys last summer the best we could,” LTFR Fire Chief Jim Linardos said. “We just hope that next year we are not in the headlines as much.”
Lakeway Elementary School has plenty of shining stars in its system, but one constellation in particular stood out at the gala.
The school’s EarlyAct Club members encouraged students in 2011 to give up their Halloween candy to donate to soldiers, do chores to raise money for Shelter Box, collect used sports equipment for disadvantaged youth, visit retirement communities on Easter to sing and provide homemade decorations, and write words of encouragement for other students who were affected by the Bastrop fires.
The club, which Lakeway/Lake Travis Rotary Club sponsors, has grown every year from its inception in 2009 to 60 members in 2011-12.
“On behalf of the heart of Lakeway Elementary – our children – I thank you,” teacher and sponsor Cathy Pankonien said.
Austin Families for Families, a nonprofit organization of Lake Travis High School students that withstood the loss of co-founder Trevor Searle last March, still serves the community by channeling donations to families in need during the holiday season.
Their persistence won the admiration of the chamber and earned the organization the 2011 Shining Star award.
Her involvement in programs such as Family Link Foster Care, Kardivas, Mobile Loaves & Fishes and the Lakeway Police Memorial and Benevolent Foundation earned Mallory Voorheis the 2011 Unsung Hero award.
The chamber’s event and membership director established a donation location at its office for wildfire victims last fall and worked with members to donate food for rescue relief for both firefighters and fire victims.
“She has a huge heart for her community and cares deeply about how it operates now and how she can help make it better for the future,” said award presenter Barker Keith II.
Will Mitchell took home the Chairman’s Award from Zbranek for his dedication to SpringFest, the chamber’s annual spring festival.
Paul Quinn, who aided Lake Travis Coalition’s efforts to produce the first Lake Travis Economic Study, earned the 2011 Volunteer of the Year, and Vlado Ruzicka was named 2011 Ambassador of the Year.

Lakeway Resort. Spa general manager Troy Matthews accepts the 2011 Business of the Year Award.

Graphic illustration courtesy of Phin-Ker Ventures

Phin-Ker Ventures partners made a presentation Jan. 17 to the Lakeway City Council that depicted their vision for a 93-acre mixed-use development that will surround Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

Phin-Ker Ventures partners made a presentation Jan. 17 to the Lakeway City Council that depicted their vision for a 93-acre mixed-use development that will surround Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

Lakeway City Council members and planning commissioners are taking a close look at a 93-acre mixed-use medical campus proposed to encircle Lakeway Regional Medical Center.

Although it is not affiliated with the 8.5-acre hospital on Ranch Road 620, the yet-unnamed Phin-Ker Ventures development is lining up a hotel, multifamily housing, more than 78,000 square feet of retail space, two restaurants, assisted living center, senior housing and more ancillary services to the hospital.

Phin-Ker partner James Kerby presented the conceptual plan to the Lakeway City Council at its regular meeting Jan. 17. He estimated that it would take seven to 10 years to complete the development, with some components still in negotiations.

The campus split by Wild Cherry Drive and Flintrock Road features up to 160,000 square feet of medical office space in three buildings, the first of which is anticipated to open in the spring, about the same time as the hospital.

“We feel like the hospital is our partner in these other ventures and parcels, but we are independent of the hospital, and the hospital is independent of us,” Kerby said.

David Kreye, Lakeway Regional Medical Center chief executive officer, spoke in support of the project.

“We are, as a hospital, in support of exactly what they propose,” Kreye said. “It’s really advantageous for the hospital to have these kind of things very, very close.”

The developers are negotiating with NRP Group to build a 250-unit apartment complex designed as medical housing but not limited to hospital or medical employees.

NRP is an Ohio-based construction firm that specializes in multifamily, senior housing, single-family and commercial and retail sites.

Phin-Ker’s concept plan also proposes a senior housing facility that features age-limited apartments.

Shannon Burke, Lakeway director of building and development services, said the city had approved site plans for the hospital building, a parking garage that is complete, the first medical office building, grading, roads and other infrastructure.

The city’s Major Medical Center zoning ordinance allows all commercial-1, office and retail uses as well as all uses permitted in hotel-motel zoning, but it does not allow multifamily development.

“These would be Class-A apartments. We understand the concern about apartments – that’s been historic, so we are trying to address that,” Kerby said.

Lakeway Councilman Joe Bain pressed the developers on the apartment issue.

“The Comprehensive Plan for Lakeway – and I know I’m going to take a little flak on this – really discourages any apartments,” Bain said. “A lot of this is really disguised in other ways, but it’s really apartment buildings – you said something like that.”

Kerby responded that the company wasn’t trying to hide anything.

“I call them apartments because that’s what they are. … There’s no smoke and mirrors; I know they’re apartments,” he said.

Bain also questioned the impact the development would have on vehicle traffic.

“How do you expect to address the already onerous traffic issues we already have when you increase this density?” Bain asked.

According to a of a traffic impact analysis draft by HDR Engineering, the proposed project would generate about 28,622 daily trips on RR 620.

According to Texas Department of Transportation counts, the traffic volume for year on Ranch Road 620, north of Lohman’s Spur, was 33,000 vehicles per day in 2009.

Kerby told the council that they are sensitive to the traffic concerns.

“We know how bad the traffic is,” Kerby said. “Those are some things that I think that in later discussions we are going to be able to help address as well.”

Kerby also told council members that Phin-Ker’s negotiations were progressing well with La Quinta to secure 120-room hotel with extended-stay options.

“We are very far down the line with La Quinta as being our flag,” Kerby said. “That would be a proposal that we would be bringing in, in short order for your consideration.”

The Covenant Group of Fort Worth has signed on to build an 80-bed assisted living, 40-bed memory care facility in addition to an independent living site.

A fire station, rehabilitation hospital, recovery center, day care and skilled nursing facilities are in the planning stages for the campus, and Phin-Ker’s proposal also calls for 3.5 to 4 miles of trails to link the buildings throughout the campus.

The project suffered delays as ownership that began in 2008 was split off from the hospital plan and changed hands from Aqualand to KGP to Phin-Ker, but Kerby said the developer would bring more proposals for the council’s consideration in the coming months.

“I really believe this has the opportunity to be a flagship – one of the best campuses in the state,” he said.

Lake Travis school district’s new superintendent, Brad Lancaster, addresses approximately 200 business people during the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast Luncheon on Jan. 18 at Lakeway Resort and Spa.

By Devin Monk

reporter@ltview.com

The economic engine that is south Lake Travis is still chugging ahead, but will grind to a halt without water resources to serve more residents and businesses on track to move into the area this year.

That message drove the presentations and conversations at Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast Luncheon on Jan. 18 at Lakeway Resort and Spa.

Lakeway officials expect to approve 160 or more residential permits and 10 commercial permits in 2012, and the city’s sales tax revenue has increased by an average of 10 percent each year over the last five years.

“It’s one of the best indicators for me to see how healthy our local economy is,” Lakeway city manager Steve Jones said.

Jones churned out a list of residential and commercial developments under construction or picking up steam that included a Holiday Inn Express at Ranch Road 620 and Oak Grove Boulevard with an accompanying restaurant, 22,000 square feet of office space at Discovery Point near Mizu Restaurant, a 70-lot Serene Hills residential development and a HEB grocery store at Serene Hills Drive and Texas Highway 71.

Highland Village Amenity Center in Rough Hollow will boast a water park, active adult housing development Tuscan Village is gaining momentum and improvements are in store for Highlands Boulevard and Bee Creek Road.

Lakeway Regional Medical Center is set to open this spring, and Phin-Ker Ventures is planning a mixed-use development that could feature a hotel, two restaurants, retail space, assisted living care, senior housing, apartments and more.

“While little of this will probably be completed this year, it does bode well for this area – especially the employment that will be generated from this project as it’s built and starts going,” Jones said.

Bee Cave Councilman Mike Murphy said the city’s sales tax revenues grew by about 6 percent-9 percent from 2010 to 2011.

“Even though it’s good news, I don’t think it’s anything spectacular,” Murphy said. “We totally rely on sales tax, so we are a lot more sensitive to what it’s doing.”

Having only the Whole Foods Market opening on the horizon, Bee Cave’s commercial growth has evened out for the near future, he said, but residential development will lead Bee Cave’s growth in 2012 with a kick-started Spanish Oaks and revived Ladera Ranch heading the list.

Morningside appears to have broken free from its shackles to move forward on a development of 50 single-family houses and 300 condominiums between Home Depot and Falconhead subdivision.

Although Hill Country Galleria is near capacity in retail and office space, a developer plans to build 40 single-family townhomes at two to three stories each.

Masonwood 71 Ltd. has plans to build a 300-home project in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction on the former Grumbles tract near the Lake Travis school district’s Transportation and Distribution Center.

“The housing market is very good here,” Murphy said. “We continue to attract successful, self-disciplined people with initiative who want to move out here and be in a nice neighborhood.”

Karen Huber, Travis County Precinct 3 commissioner, offset the positive residential news with a sobering reminder to bear natural resources in mind when planning for the area’s future.

Huber steered clear of transportation projects because road improvements such as Flintrock and Bee Creek are already under way, but no new thoroughfare plans are set for 2012.

“We’re going into a really dire stretch on transportation funding,” she warned.

She noted that the Texas Water Development Board released a state water plan with recommendations that would cost an estimated $53 billion to implement.

The state population is about 28 million and is expected to double in the next 50 years, Huber said

The water plan’s forecast is for a 22 percent increase in demand for water by 2060 and 10 percent less water supply.

Partnerships and adaptability, she said, would be critical to clearing the hurdles the year could bring.

“We need to be thinking – this year, next year – what is our role in seeing that these plans that are on shelves and projections that are out there are addressed,” Huber said, “so that we can continue to enjoy the dynamic economies that we have right now and the potential that we are prepared to receive that includes population growth and increased water demand. I think we would be remiss if we didn’t address the challenges we face in 2012. We have some challenges we all need to rise to.”

Brad Lancaster, Lake Travis school district’s new superintendent, said that the district’s enrollment continues to grow by 6 percent to 7 percent annually, but it experienced unusual spikes at some of its campuses this fall.

Lake Travis High School enrollment grew by 7.5 percent from 2010-11 to 2011-12, Lake Travis Middle School swelled by 11.8 percent in the same timeframe and Bee Cave Elementary School nearly busted at the seams with 19.2 percent growth.

The district is not only bracing for more students but also readying for the Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, which will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

The standardized test will bring significant changes for primarily third- through eighth-graders, Lancaster said, but also present high school students with end-of-course exams.

As the district wades through the new material, it will retain its Exemplary rating with the state for another year, which the superintendent said would attract more homebuyers to the Lake Travis area.

“For Realtors and for home sales, having an Exemplary rating for your school district is critical,” Lancaster said.

More than 25 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the district’s November bond election that featured $158.45 million in school construction, remodeling, renovation and technology upgrades.

LTISD will expand Hudson Bend Middle School and convert Lake Travis Middle School into space for Lake Travis High School, begin construction on a new Lake Travis Middle School late this year on Bee Creek Road and sixth elementary school in West Cypress Hills in spring 2013 with the latter two campuses scheduled for completion in 2014.

“That will take us into the future for the foreseeable timeframe,” Lancaster said.

As it manages a $8 million cut to its state funding over the next two years, LTISD will continue its cost-saving measures that have included eliminating employee positions through attrition and reducing its transportation and extracurricular budgets, for example.

“We were able to maintain the programs we offer to our children, and we can still be successful in athletics, fine arts and academics,” Lancaster said.

David Kreye, Lakeway Regional Medical Center chief executive officer, is seeing success in the hospital’s construction that is scheduled for completion this spring.

So confident in its start date, the hospital has posted a countdown timer to its opening day, which as of today stated 80 days remained before it opens its doors.

The nine-story, full-service hospital will provide more than 67 services and expects to hire about 225 employees when it opens its first phase.

“We look forward to partnering with the school district and the rest of the community,” Kreye said.

Doug Land, real estate agent at Capital City Sothby’s International Realty, wore a Looney Tunes tie to symbolize what he said would be the mentality of anyone attempting to forecast the future , but the results of 2011 brought some peace of mind to his presentation.

“2011 was a great year here in the Lake Travis area,” Land said with more than 800 homes sold in Lake Travis ISD, up 5.1 percent from 2010. “We are certainly in the right place at the right time.”

The average sale price in LTISD for single-family houses was $454,000, an increase of $14,000, he said. Forty-four homes valued at more than $1 million sold last year.

“I’ve been out here 20 years, and certainly there was no such thing as a million-dollar house. No one even thought we would ever sell a house at that kind of price, but certainly it is more prevalent here,” Land said.

Rocky Creek and West Cypress Hills are taking off and rooftops will pop up at Canyons at Sweetwater along Texas Highway 71 this year.

One municipality that has not seen much activity should blossom as homebuilders find affordable lots, he predicted.

“Even Briarcliff, which has been there for many, many years, is going to see a little renaissance this year,” Land said.

Builders bought 250 lots last year, which was up from about 200 in 2010.

The Realtor said stories of difficult financing are mostly false and related jaw-dropping loan numbers from that morning of a 30-year fixed rate loan with zero points for 3.75 interest.

“I never thought in my real estate career that I’d see numbers like this,” Land declared. “These kind of numbers are unheard of.”

FILE PHOTO

Bee Cave City Administrator Frank Salvato and councilman Bob Dorsett, right, congratulate Ben Archer, left, as his State Farm insurance agency wins the Young Business of the Year award at the 2011 Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Gala.

The Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce and Prosperity Bank will host the 20th annual Community Awards Gala on Feb. 4 at Lakeway Resort and Spa.

Tim Cardinal, Lakeway Banking Center president, said the annual event will honor businesses, individuals, youth and nonprofit organizations that make Lake Travis a wonderful place to live, work and play.

“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 20th annual Community Awards Gala, honoring businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to our community over the past year,” Cardinal said.

Prosperity Bank is among other well deserving previous winners of the coveted Business of the Year award, including Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes, Point of Origin, American Bank and Buster’s BBQ.

Other award categories are Young Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Unsung Hero, Rising Star and Shining Star. To nominate a deserving business, organization, individual or youth, visit the chamber website at laketravischamber.com.

After the awards presentation, guests may dance to country musician Weldon Henson’s tunes.

The evening will be an elegant and relaxed event as the Denim & Diamonds theme continues for a third year with Western cocktail or dressy jeans as the attire. Black tie is optional.

Various sponsorships are available including Denim, Diamond, Frills & Lace and Ranchers. Colts and Fillies individual tickets are $80.

For information and to register online, visit laketravischamber.com.

Questions about the event may be directed to the chamber office at info@laketravischamber.com or 263-5833.

Photo by Michelle Stecker

During a recent weekday afternoon, construction continued on a Whole Foods store at 12601 Hill Country Blvd. in the Galleria shopping mall.

By Michelle Stecker
Special to the LT View

Construction of the 38,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market at the Galleria in Bee Cave is in full swing and is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2012.

Rebecca Scofield, Austin media and community relations for Whole Foods Market, said the store will be slightly larger than the average Whole Foods.

“The Bee Cave store is the first brand new [Whole Foods] store that has opened in Austin since 1987,” said Scofield. The downtown store has relocated a few times, but this is the expansion into a new community.

Tenants with a foothold in this outdoor walking mall said they eagerly anticipate the opening and look forward to the healthy options that Whole Foods provide.

“Everyone in my neighborhood [Steiner Ranch] is excited about Whole Foods,” said Michelle Alonzo, part-time salesperson at Charming Charlie, located just a few doors away from the market.

“A lot of people have so many food allergies,” she said, pointing out that Whole Foods offers many options to satisfy every dietary need. “You just can’t compete with Whole Foods.”

Patty Sanguily, a design salesperson for Cierra Furniture, formerly located on Burnet Road, said the change of location to the Galleria was made about a year ago, specifically located across from the new market.

“That’s why we picked this spot because Whole Foods is going in across the way, and we hope it brings a lot more traffic,” Sanguily said. “Our style of rustic elegance is very appropriate for this area. This is a nice sized mall, it’s easy to get in and out of.”

Bee Cave city administrator Frank Salvato said there is plenty of excitement about Whole Foods Market coming; however, he pointed out that it is difficult to guage how much sales-tax revenue it will generate for the city.

“We just don’t know what to expect,” he said.

Scofield said the Bee Cave store will include floral and house wares and its signature high quality personal products including facial, skin and body care.

“We believe the quality of the items and ingredients people apply to their bodies topically is as important as the foods and nutritional supplements they ingest,” she said.

Schofield said the Whole Foods concept includes developing a close relationship with its surrounding community, and store marketer Rachael Malish will begin connecting with local schools, businesses and nonprofits within the next couple of weeks.

From opening day the Bee Cave store will give a portion its sales back to nonprofit organizations in the community, Scofield said.

Dalia Alfandary Brooks said each design is expertly crafted by the skilled artisans with whom she works in small village studio workshops across Bali and Java where she lived for many years.

“After two decades of enriching my craft in Bali, I was eager to bring the beauty of all I had learned back to the Austin area,” Brooks said.

Drawing upon current trends in fashion and her intuitive sense of femininity, Brooks brings her jewelry to life right here in Austin in her design studio adjoining the boutique.

In the spring, she will regularly appear on QVC as one of their exclusive handcrafted designers.

About the Designer

Designer Dalia Alfandary Brooks has been a jeweler for most of her life, quite literally growing up at her father’s bench. A well-known character in the Canadian jewelry scene in the 1970s, and later here in Austin in the 1980s, Rafael Alfandary, was the celebrity designer of his time, catering to notable personalities such as Mohammed Ali and Jackie Onassis, creating rough hewn statement pieces far ahead of his time.

From the many childhood years that Dalia spent working alongside her father, she developed a more refined and feminine approach to her art, absorbing the skills of an artisan, the eye of a stone grader and the finesse of a fine jeweler. At the tender age of 19, equipped with the skills and techniques developed through time and devotion, she had opened and expanded a number of jewelry stores in Austin.

It wasn’t long before she yearned for something more, so she set off to see the world, to experience something of her parents’ culture in Eastern Europe.

e, and later, to travel further afield. Lured to Bali on the hidden promise of a postcard in the window of a Florentine Café, and with little thinking of career choices, she soon found a pool of talented craftsmen well-suited to bring her designs to life.

“I knew Bali was where I wanted to be and where I could do everything I ever wanted to do with jewelry,” she said.

Able to produce her pieces far more affordably, she gained access to a much wider market than she had ever imagined, designing for national clients such as Sundance and The Nature Company, and soon gaining success under a brand bearing her own name.

After almost 20 years of paradise living, Dalia returned to the US in 2008 to work closely with her larger customers, such as HSN, and develop her jewelry further for the commercial market. Seeing the opportunity to reach a broader audience, Dalia has launched a more up-market range of designs and has newly opened her boutique and design center to the public.

Department of Justice officials said that Fred Gladle, 53, falsely told the owners of more than a thousand distressed properties that they could postpone foreclosure sales.

During a four-year scheme in Los Angeles and other locations, he reportedly used five aliases to avoid detection, including stealing the identity of at least one person and setting up a cell phone account in that victim’s name.

Gladle, who was arrested in October 2011, stated in court in Austin that he intends to plead guilty to the charges as part of a plea agreement, according to the Department of Justice. He will face two to seven years in prison.

According to the charges, Gladle was involved in a scheme that recruited homeowners whose properties were in danger of foreclosure and falsely promised to delay the foreclosures for homeowners for up to six months.

Once a homeowner paid a monthly fee, Gladle, either directly or through salespersons, reportedly had the homeowner sign a deed granting a 1/100th interest in the house to a debtor in a bankruptcy whose name Gladle had found by searching bankruptcy records.

The debtors had no idea that their names and bankruptcy cases were being used by Gladle in his scheme, according to the Department of Justice.

He reportedly would print out the debtor’s bankruptcy petition, attach it to the deed in the debtor’s name and fax the two documents to a homeowner’s lender to stop foreclosure proceedings.

Because a bankruptcy filing elicits an automatic stay on a debtor’s property, the petitions and deeds forced lenders to cancel foreclosure sales.

The lenders – which included banks that received government funds under the Troubled Asset Relief Program – could not attempt to collect these debts without permission from bankruptcy court, which resulted in delays to recover their money.

TARP is a federal program that purchases assets and equity from financial institutions.

When homeowners wanted to void the deeds to the debtors, Gladle reportedly would forge the debtors’ signatures on papers voiding the deeds.

The FBI and Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, a white-collar law enforcement agency, conducted the investigation and received assistance from the U.S. Trustee’s Office.

Gladle defrauded TARP recipient banks including Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo, said Christy Romero, SIGTARP deputy special inspector general.

“This is the latest example of heartless criminal activity by an individual who sought to capitalize on the misfortune of those affected by hard economic times,” said Steven Martinez, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office. “Mr. Gladle defrauded victims trying to save their homes, further exploited those in debt by stealing their identities, and wreaked havoc on both banks and the bankruptcy courts by manipulating the system.”

Gladle has been the subject of several financial investigations, including an SEC inquiry into his company TrendsGroup in 2004 when the commission stated he and others reportedly sold unregistered securities, fined him $157,000 and described his style as a high-pressure “boiler room” sales tactic.

By that time, he and his wife, a 1984 Playboy Playmate of the Year, had moved to Lakeway from California where he played linebacker on University of Southern California’s 1978 national football championship team and graduated with a finance degree in 1981.

According to other court documents, Gladle continued to defraud investors from January 2003 to November 2004 by obtaining loans and investments for the Family Funplex Center, a bowling alley center in Lakeway.

The case was dismissed after an undisclosed settlement.

Gladle’s lawyer, Joe Turner of Austin, declined to comment to the Austin American-Statesman, but in his Maritime Military Academy alumni description, Gladle said “God has been very gracious and merciful.”

He updated his work status on Facebook in August 2011 to “Self Employed and Loving It!”

PHOTO BY DEVIN MONK

Realtor Doug Land of Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty will return as a speaker at Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast on Jan. 18 at Lakeway Resort and Spa.

A range of leaders plugged into the local economy and development may bear good tidings at the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 18 at Lakeway Resort and Spa.

Lakeway City Manager Steve Jones, Bee Cave City Councilman Mike Murphy and new Lake Travis ISD Superintendent Brad Lancaster will deliver projections on what 2012 may or may not bring to the Lake Travis area.

David Kreye, Lakeway Regional Medical Center chief executive officer, Realtor Doug Land of Capital City Sotheby’s International Realty and Travis County Commissioner Karen Huber, Precinct 3, also will weigh in with their outlooks.

Chamber President Laura Mitchell said audience members will get a chance to tap into the latest information from various political and economic sources at the local level.

“They will get to hear from the leaders who make the community what it is and how that impacts their daily lives,” Mitchell said.

Both Lakeway and Bee Cave are reporting upward trends in sales tax revenues, LTISD’s enrollment continues to grow at a reported 7 percent clip and the medical center is on target for a spring opening.

“It’s not just lip service; it’s good data,” she said. “I think when people hear positive news, it tends to resonate through what they do day-to-day instead of continuing to hear that the economy is still soft or its struggling.”

Seating is limited to 300. Cost is $30 for members and $35 for future members. Registration is set for 10:30 a.m. The program and lunch will begin at 11 a.m.

For information and to register online by Jan. 13, visit laketravischamber.com.

On Thursday, Nov. 17, Tony Holt of Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes was installed as President of the Building Industry Association of the Highland Lakes (BIA-HL).

Holt is the immediate Past-President of the Lakeway Chapter of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. Recently, Zbranek & Holt has been recognized as both the Texas Custom Home Builder of the Year as well as Austin Custom Home Builder of the Year.
The installation of the new BIA-Highland Lakes Board of Directors as well as Mr. Holt’s Presidential installation was performed by Eddie Martin, President-elect of Texas Association of Builders. Mr. Martin is the owner and president of BIA member Tilson Homes.
One of Holt’s goals for the coming year is to increase regional builder and remodeler participation in the BIA-Highland Lakes. As a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Certified Graduate Master Builder, Mr. Holt is also committed to getting builders back into the classroom with a goal of earning professional designations. Additionally Mr. Holt is a, Certified Graduate Builder and Certified Green Professional. He is also a national industry judge for various Parade of Home events throughout the country.
The Building Industry Association of the Highland Lakes (BIA-HL) was chartered by the National Association of Home Builders in 2001 to serve Blanco, Burnet and Llano counties of Texas as the industries professional trade association for the region. The BIA’s over 300 members include Developers, Builders, Remodelers and their subcontractors, service companies and suppliers. The BIA provides compliance and regulatory education, advocacy, community services as well as produces the Parade Home Tour and the “Find A Contractor” guide annually. The building industry is the largest producer of income and employment throughout the Highland Lakes.
Mr. Holt is an owner/partner in Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes of Austin Texas. His company focuses on building only pre-sold luxury custom homes. Zbranek & Holt is a full-service, fixed price custom home builder and does not build any speculative homes nor does the company hold any inventory property. All Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes Project Managers are Certified Master Builders and Certified Green Building Professionals. The company is the recent recipient of numerous awards including 2-Time National Master Builder of the Year, Texas Custom Home Builder of the Year, and 2-Time Austin Custom Home Builder of the Year. Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes proudly builds luxury custom homes throughout the Texas Hill Country including Austin, Westlake, Lakeway, Lake Travis, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, Horseshoe Bay, Highland Lakes, Burnet, Johnson City, Wimberley, Fredericksburg, Georgetown and Round Rock.

The Lake Travis area golf retail store britgolf will be holding a fundraising evening tonight from 3-7 p.m.

The event will celebrate the achievements of the 2011 State Champion Lake Travis High School Golf Team and to raise funds towards the continued and future success of the golf program.
Many members of Lake Travis Golf Teams past and present will be in attendance at britgolf between 5-6 p.m. with their trophies from this year.
The store will be running a long drive contest and putting fitting competition, with lots of fun and prizes, between golf team members, parents and customers.
Anyone wishing to support the golf team can take the opportunity to come and meet the players and also stock up on balls, gloves etc., as 20 percent of all sales on the night will go directly back to benefiting the team.
britgolf is located at 3620 RR 620 South, Suite 280, Austin, 78738.
Call 263-3343, or email info@britgolf.com. Visit www.britgolf.com for more information.
JV, second team action
Lake Travis High School Golf Coach Randy Morris said the junior varsity played Morris William G.C. in Austin on Oct. 20.
“Our JV boys played at and placed somewhere in the middle of the pack with a team score of 362,” Morris said. “The Cavs were led by Christian Gurley with an 88, followed closely by Isaiah German at 89, Sam Butler shot 92, Steven Severance shot 93, and JD Bolner fired a 102.”
Morris said the second team boys also Oct. 21-22 in the Canyon Match Play Invitational held at Landa Park G.C. in New Braunfels, finishing third.
“This is a unique event in which you are paired in fours and play each player in the group in a six hole match,” Morris said. “You receive a point if you win the match, and one half point is you tie a match.”
Lake Travis scored eight and a half points one day and finished with 10 and a half points for a total of 19 to take third place. New Braunfels won the title.
Andrew Dehennis led the Cavs with five points followed by Thomas Hoch and David Castano each with four points. Jake Ezell earned three and a half, while Will Bird ended up with two and a half points.